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A feast for a threatened species

It's a degustation dinner that would make the hungriest Tasmanian devil proud.

Five courses of fine Tasmanian food and wine will be served at a dinner hosted by Josef Chromy Wines on Friday 2 November, to aid the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appealand raise funds to support devil research and management programs.

The menu will be devised by celebrity chef Ed Halmagyi, who will also be master of ceremonies for the evening, and will feature the best locally-grown produce with emphasis on quality products from existing appeal donors such as Pure Foods free-range eggs, Valhalla ice-cream and 666 Vodka.

"Tasmania is big on excellence. From amazing food and wines, through to brilliant tourism spots and exceptionally friendly people," Mr Halmagyi said.

"So imagine an extraordinary dinner with the best food and matched Josef Chromy wines, shared with interesting and passionate people. Now that's what I call a great night out."

The fundraiser will be launched at Josef Chromy Wines this Friday 7 September, on National Threatened Species Day – which is held each year to commemorate the death of the last Tasmanian tiger in Hobart Zoo in 1936.

Appeal ambassador and singer/songwriter Dewayne Everettsmith will provide the entertainment at the event, playing tunes on his new Maton Guitars Tasmanian devil guitar including the wonderfully evocative tune written especially for the Tasmanian devil, Make it feel so right.

UTAS Tasmanian devil researcher Associate Professor Greg Woods from Menzies Research Institute Tasmania will be the keynote speaker and give guests an update on where research currently stands.

An auction on the night is expected to further boost funds for the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal, which is administered by the UTAS Foundation.

Josef Chromy Wines managing director Dean Cocker said that the vineyard owners feel it is vital to grab every opportunity to help the Tasmanian devil and to raise money for scientists so that they can solve the problem of the Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

"How can we claim to have a world class environment if we lose the Tasmanian Devil which is known across the world as an emblem of this State?" he said.

Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal manager Rebecca Cuthill said that community support is paramount.

"It is prescient on Threatened Species Day to highlight the support being provided by our fantastic Tasmanian businesses, helping to take the message to the wider community that the time to save the Tasmanian Devil is now," she said.